"I am in no rush," Smith told Sky Sports News. "I want it to be the right move for my career and for Alan Smith. That is vital if you are going to move on, it has to be right as it is a massive step in my career. I have got to see which clubs come in for me, what offers are there. Me moving on is not going to help Leeds, but it will help Alan Smith and that is what I have got to think about."
So much for his undying love of Lids. Those affiliations and Munich-chanting rumours aside the general view has been that Smith just is not good enough for United, on the other hand some Reds have asked whether he is any worse than Nicky Butt or Phil Neville, and for six million or less he is cheaper than a certain Uruguayan.
If he does sign for United many Reds will never accept him and no less certain will be the bile and vitriol projectile vomited in his direction from the other side of the hill.